# Law No. 7167 of December 14, 1983

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648330](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648330)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7167-of-december-14-1983

## Summary
Law No. 7167 of December 14, 1983, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to structure and regulate public service, specifically focusing on occupational groups, functional categories, and the alteration of existing administrative frameworks. Promulgated by President João Figueiredo in Brasília, this law serves as a foundational legal instrument for defining "Other Activities of Higher Level" and establishing the structural organization of the Brazilian public sector. It remains a key reference in Brazilian administrative law for understanding the classification and management of civil service roles.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 7167, de 14 de dezembro de 1983.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7167/1983.
- **Date of Enactment:** December 14, 1983.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to the federal jurisdiction of Brazil.
- **Class/Type:** Statute (a formal written document creating law).
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Head of State at Enactment:** João Figueiredo.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Primary Subject Matter:** Public Service (Serviço Público), Occupational Groups (Grupo Ocupacional), Structural Changes (Estruturação), and Functional Categories (Categoria Funcional).
- **Specific Focus:** Regulation of "Other Activities of Higher Level" (Outras Atividades De Nivel Superior).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-14;7167.
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7167.htm.
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law.
- **Action Type:** Alteration (Alteração) and Structuring (Estruturação).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 7167/1983?**
The law was enacted to restructure and regulate the Brazilian public service system, specifically by defining occupational groups and functional categories. It serves as a legal mechanism to alter existing administrative frameworks and establish clear guidelines for "Other Activities of Higher Level" within the government.

**Who was responsible for approving and publishing this statute?**
The law was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under the administration of President João Figueiredo. It was officially published in the capital city of Brasília on December 14, 1983.

**What specific areas of public administration does this law address?**
This statute focuses on the structural organization of the public sector, addressing the classification of occupational groups and functional categories. It specifically targets the regulation of higher-level activities and mandates changes to the existing legal framework governing public service roles.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available in Brazilian Portuguese through the official government portal at the Planalto website. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-14;7167.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7167/1983 is a critical component of Brazil's administrative legal history, providing the statutory basis for organizing the federal workforce during a pivotal period in the country's transition toward democracy. By defining specific occupational groups and functional categories, the law ensures that public service roles are clearly delineated, which is essential for effective governance, fair employment practices, and bureaucratic efficiency. Its focus on "structuring" and "alteration" indicates its role in modernizing the civil service, allowing the government to adapt its human resources to evolving national needs. For legal scholars, historians, and public administrators, this statute represents a concrete example of how Brazilian legislation shapes the operational reality of the state, influencing everything from career progression to the scope of authority for higher-level public servants.

## Notable For
- **Specific Regulatory Focus:** Distinctly targets the classification of "Other Activities of Higher Level" within the Brazilian public sector.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the final years of the military dictatorship in Brazil, under President João Figueiredo, just before the return to full civilian rule.
- **Structural Impact:** Explicitly designed to alter and restructure existing public service frameworks rather than creating entirely new agencies.
- **Digital Preservation:** Fully indexed in the LexML Brazil system with a persistent URN, ensuring long-term accessibility and legal citation stability.
- **Administrative Precision:** Serves as a primary reference for defining "Occupational Groups" and "Functional Categories" in federal law.
- **Official Status:** Recognized as a formal statute (Lei) with binding authority across the entire Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Body

### Legislative Identity and Classification
Law No. 7167 of December 14, 1983, is formally classified as a **statute**, representing a formal written document that creates law. In the context of Brazilian jurisprudence, it functions as an act passed by the legislature and promulgated by the executive branch. The entity is taxonomically a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," serving as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. Its legal citation is standardly rendered as **Lei nº 7167/1983**. The law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and applies strictly to the jurisdiction of Brazil. It is cataloged in the LexML Brazil system with the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-14;7167`, which facilitates its retrieval and citation in digital legal databases.

### Enactment and Promulgation Details
The statute was officially approved and promulgated on **December 14, 1983**. At the time of its enactment, the head of state was **João Figueiredo**, who served as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The act of promulgation was carried out by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, confirming the executive's role in finalizing the legislative process. The place of publication was **Brasília**, the federal capital, which serves as the seat of the national government. The determination method for the law's validity is recorded as "promulgation," marking the moment it became effective law. The publication date is strictly recorded as 1983-12-14, aligning with the historical timeline of the late military regime in Brazil.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The main subject of Law No. 7167/1983 is **Public Service** (Serviço Público). The legislation is not a general law but a targeted instrument designed to address specific administrative needs. Its scope encompasses several key qualifiers:
- **Occupational Groups (Grupo Ocupacional):** The law defines and organizes groups of occupations within the federal administration.
- **Functional Categories (Categoria Funcional):** It establishes the hierarchy and classification of functional roles.
- **Structuring (Estruturação):** A primary function of the law is to structure the organization of public service entities.
- **Alteration (Alteração):** The statute explicitly acts to alter existing legal frameworks, indicating it amends or updates prior regulations.
- **Higher Level Activities:** A specific focus is placed on "Other Activities of Higher Level" (Outras Atividades De Nivel Superior), suggesting the regulation of senior or specialized public service roles.

These subjects are interconnected, forming a comprehensive framework for managing the human resources of the Brazilian federal government. The law serves as a mechanism to ensure that the structure of public service aligns with the operational requirements of the state.

### Digital Presence and Authority Control
In the digital age, Law No. 7167/1983 is maintained through robust authority control systems. The **LexML Brazil** project provides a persistent URN (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-14;7167`) that ensures the law can be uniquely identified and cited across different legal information systems. The official text is hosted on the **Planalto** government website, accessible via the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7167.htm`. This digital availability ensures that the public and legal professionals have unrestrained access to the text, adhering to the principle that government laws should be in the public domain. The law is also described in **Wikidata** as a "Brazilian law," linking it to a broader knowledge graph of legal entities.

### Historical and Administrative Context
Enacted in 1983, this law falls within a specific historical window in Brazil, occurring shortly before the end of the military dictatorship and the return to civilian rule in 1985. The promulgation by João Figueiredo places the statute within the final phase of the "Abertura" (opening) process. The law's focus on "structuring" and "alteration" suggests an effort to modernize or reorganize the federal bureaucracy during a period of political transition. By defining "Occupational Groups" and "Functional Categories," the legislation aimed to bring clarity and order to the public service, potentially preparing the administrative apparatus for the upcoming democratic era. The specific mention of "Other Activities of Higher Level" indicates a targeted approach to managing specialized or senior personnel, a critical aspect of maintaining government stability during times of political change.

### Legal Relationships and Properties
The law is associated with several specific properties that define its legal nature and relationships:
- **Instance Of:** It is an instance of a "statute."
- **Applies To Jurisdiction:** The law is valid only within the borders of Brazil.
- **Language of Work:** The text is exclusively in Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Main Subject:** The core topics are public service, occupational groups, and structural changes.
- **Action:** The law performs the actions of "alteration" and "structuring."
- **References:** The data is supported by references from the LexML Brazil project and the Presidency of the Republic, ensuring the authenticity of the recorded facts.

These properties collectively define the law's identity within the Brazilian legal system, distinguishing it from other statutes by its specific date, subject matter, and the authority that enacted it. The law remains a vital piece of legislation for understanding the evolution of Brazil's public administration and the legal mechanisms used to manage the federal workforce.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-14;7167)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7167&ano=1983&data=14/12/1983&ato=11eoXUE50dBpWTa6d)